Anxiety Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional evidence from a private therapist, and will re-adjudicate the claim after receiving this information.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for a VA examination to assess the severity of his lung disability and mental disability.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause or contribute substantially to his death. The VA medical opinions provided detailed reasoning and considered all relevant evidence, including the Veteran's nonservice-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations and TDIU have been granted. The effective date of the award of service connection for TBI with headaches is set at December 1, 1967.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is related to his active military service and whether he has an anxiety disorder that is attributable to his service. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, was denied as there is no credible and competent supporting evidence that any in-service injury or disease caused his current anxiety disorder.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for anxiety disorder, depression, panic disorder, and bipolar disorder as well as right carpal tunnel syndrome. Further development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but the Board has reopened his claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD due to new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran currently has PTSD related to his service and whether any other acquired psychiatric disorders are related to service. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying the Veteran's reported stressors. The Veteran is also scheduled for VA examinations to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his claimed left knee disability and psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, general anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his current psychiatric conditions. The case also requires verification of in-service stressors related to PTSD.

The VA treatment did not result in any additional residuals of a myocardial infarction.,The VA treatment did not result in any additional anginal pain.,There is no competent medical evidence establishing that the veteran had a morphine overdose during the course of treatment at the VA facility, and even if he did, any residuals were acute and transitory and did not result in additional disability.,The VA treatment did not result in any additional disability to a condition manifested by a low heart rate, alternating high and low blood pressure, fatigue, insomnia, restlessness, nausea, lightheadedness, and dizziness.,The VA treatment did not result in any additional psychiatric disability.,The VA treatment did not result in any additional headaches.

The Veteran's headaches are etiologically related to his service-connected PTSD and its associated mental health conditions, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), tension, and anxiety. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence supports this relationship.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disability is found to be related to service. The issue of residuals of a cranial injury and acquired psychiatric disability will require further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder is found to be related to service, while his bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are not shown by competent evidence to be etiologically related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not currently have bilateral hearing loss or a right shoulder disorder for which service connection is warranted. The claim for residuals of a traumatic brain injury and acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety) remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected major depression with anxiety disorder is rated at 70 percent since March 26, 2008.

The Veteran's service-connected generalized anxiety disorder is not shown to meet the criteria for a higher evaluation, and his claim for TDIU based on this condition was denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's service-connected conditions render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his active service. The Board did not address service connection for PTSD or mood disorder due to lack of evidence.